Bed

ABSTRACT

A bed assembly that includes a platform that would typically receive a mattress so that the platform can support a person in a lying position. The platform is supported by a post that extends downwardly from the platform to base. The base is supported by a pair of links that are pivotally attached to the base and upper pivots. The base pivots about four generally parallel transversely spaced and parallel axes to provide the platform with a rocking motion.

FIELD

The present invention relates to beds and more particularly to beds thatprovide movement for the person occupying the bed.

BACKGROUND

Beds generally consist of a platform that is to support a person in alying or reclining position.

In addition to supporting the person on the bed, some beds also providea vibration function, as well as being able to adjust various portionsof the platform so as to locate the occupant of the bed in a desiredposition.

However the above described beds suffer from the disadvantage that theydo not provide a rocking motion.

Object

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantiallyameliorate the above disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a bed assembly including:

a platform to support a person in a lying and/or reclined position;a support member fixed to the platform so as to extend downwardlytherefrom; a base;a linkage assembly supporting the member on the base for movement abouttwo space first pivots providing first pivot axes that are generallyparallel, horizontal and transversely spaced about which the membermoves to cause movement of the platform.

Preferably, the bed assembly includes a motor means to cause movement ofthe linkage assembly and therefore cause movement of the platform.

Preferably, the assembly includes two spaced second pivots providingsecond pivot axes that are generally parallel, horizontal andtransversely spaced, and parallel to the first pivot axes, with theplatform being supported so as to move angularly about the first andsecond pivot axes.

Preferably, the first pivots are upper pivots, and the second pivotslower pivots, with the first pivots being transversely spaced by apredetermined distance, with said distance being adjustable.

Preferably, the assembly includes an adjustment mechanism to alter saiddistance, the adjustment mechanism moving the first pivot in unisoneither toward or away from each other.

Preferably, the adjustment mechanism includes springs that maintain theadjustment mechanism in tension.

Preferably, the assembly includes a plurality of links, with each linkextending between a respective one of the upper pivots and a respectiveone of the lower pivots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic end elevation of a bed assembly;

FIG. 2 is a schematic end elevation of a modification of the bedassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic end elevation of a linkage assembly employable inthe bed assemblies of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a modification of the linkage assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a further modification of the linkage assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6(A) is a schematic top plan view of the bed assembly of FIGS. 1 to5;

FIG. 6(B) is a schematic side elevation of the assembly as shown in FIG.6(A)′

FIG. 7 is a schematic end elevation of a modification of the linkages ofFIG. 3:

FIG. 8(A) is a schematic top plan view of a modification of the assemblyas shown in FIG. 6(A);

FIG. 8(B) is a schematic side elevation of the assembly as shown in FIG.8(A);

FIG. 9 is a schematic end elevation of a modification of the linkageassembly shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a further schematic end elevation of the linkage of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a schematic end elevation of the linkage assembly of FIG. 3:

FIG. 12 is a schematic end elevation of the linkage assembly of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic top plan view of portion of the bed of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a schematic side plan view and side elevation of the bedassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 are schematic end and side elevations of portions of the bedassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 are schematic side and end elevations of a modification of theassembly as shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 17 are schematic end elevations of portions of the assemblies asshown in FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 18 is a schematic end elevation of a modification of the bedassembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 19 is a schematic side elevation of the bed assembly of FIG. 18.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted abed assembly 10. The assembly 10 includes a platform 11 that wouldtypically receive a mattress so that the platform 11 can support aperson in a lying position. In that respect it should be appreciated theplatform 11 could be shaped so that the person is supported in areclining position or any other desired position.

The assembly 10 also includes a base 12, that would rest on a floorsurface, having end members 13 providing at their upper portions pivotbrackets 18. The pivot brackets 18 engage a linkage assembly 14 thatincludes a beam 15. Fixed to the beam 15 is at least one post 16 thatextends upwardly from the beam 15 to be fixed to an under portion of theplatform 11 so that the platform 11 is supported thereby.

It should be appreciated that in this embodiment, and the followingembodiments, the assemblies illustrated are located at one longitudinalend of the bed, with an identical assembly being provided at theopposite end of the bed. In such an arrangement the platform 11 swaystransversely of the longitudinal direction of extension of the bed. Inalternative embodiments, the assembly 10 could be arranged so that theplatform 11 moves in the longitudinal direction of the bed.

The linkage assembly 14 provides pivots 19 and 20, with the pivots 19and 20 providing generally horizontal parallel and transversely spacedpivot axes including an upper two axes provided by the pivots 19, andlower axes provided by the pivots 20. The assembly also provides links17 that extend between pivots 19 and 20 so as to support the beam 15.

Extending between the base 12 and the beam 15 is a motor means 21 thatcauses reciprocation in the direction 22 of the beam 15 therebyproviding the platform 11 with a similar motion.

The motor means 21 may be an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor, ora linear actuator.

Preferably the motor means 21 would be operatively associated with acontroller 23 that is programmable to provide adjustment of thedisplacement of the beam 15, that is amplitude and frequency of therocking motion of the platform 11.

In FIG. 2 there is schematically depicted a modification of the bedassembly 10. In this embodiment a crank assembly 24 is provided thatincludes a crank member 25 that is pivotally supported for rotationabout a generally horizontal axis. Extending from the crank member 25 soas to be fixed to the beam 15 is a linkage 26 so that upon rotation ofthe crank member 25 the beam 15 is caused to oscillate in the direction22. There is also provided a resistance member 27 to resist motion ofthe beam 15 to provide a resistance in respect of the movement thereofto compensate for any lost motion in the drive mechanism in respect ofthe beam 15.

In FIG. 3 (and FIGS. 10 to 12) there is schematically depicted amodified linkage assembly 28. The linkage assembly 28 has the purpose ofproviding an adjustment for the position of the pivots 19, to therebyadjust the amplitude the beam 15, and therefore platform 11 movesthrough. Additionally the slope of the platform 11 changes with themovement of the pivots 19.

The linkage assembly 28 includes a pair of flanges 29 that are pivotallyfixed to the base 12 for angular movement about pivots 30.

Joining the flanges 29 are linkages 31, 32 and 33, with the linkages 31to 33 being pivotally attached, and in turn being pivotally attached tothe flanges 29. The linkage 31 is of an “L” configuration and cooperateswith the linkages 32 and 33 to couple the flanges 29 so that the flanges29 move in unison when being adjusted. The adjustment of the assembly 28is provided by angular movement of the shaft 34. Angular movement of thelinkage 31 causes movement of the flanges 29 angularly along the paths35. By operation of the shaft 34, the amount of angular movement(amplitude) the platform 11 can be adjusted.

If so required springs 36 may be provided (FIG. 4). The springs 36extend between the flanges 29 and the base 12 to urge the assembly 28 toa desired position, that is the assembly 28 would be preloaded.Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 5, a linear actuator 37 may act on alever 38 fixed to the shaft 34 to (a) in taking up lost motion, and inparticular inhibiting backlash.

In FIG. 6(A) there is schematically depicted in plan view themodification as shown in FIG. 3, with a linear actuator or other drivemechanism 39, used to push or pull a lever 40 fixed to the shaft 34. Byoperation of the mechanism 39, preferably via the control 23, the degreeof angular movement (amplitude) of the platforms 11 can be adjusted.

In FIG. 7 there is schematically depicted a threaded rod 41 that isangularly operated either by motor or manually, to cause angularmovement of a lever 42 to cause angular movement of the shaft 34 andtherefore angular movement of the flanges 29 to adjust the position ofthe pivots 19. This arrangement is shown in plan view in FIG. 8(A) andthe side elevation in FIG. 8(B).

In a still further embodiment as shown in FIG. 9, a flange 42 may beprovided, and a lever 43 fixed to the shaft 34 and moved angularlyrelative to the flange 32 so that a pin may pass through the flange 42and lever 43 to fix the shaft 34 in a desired position and thereforehave the pivots 19 located in a desired position.

With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, there is extending between the base12 and platform 11, stabilising bars 45 that are pivotally attached tothe platform 11 and base 12 to aid in stabilising movement of theplatform 11.

In FIGS. 15 and 16 there is schematically various safety strips orcovers 46 that extend between the platform 11 and base 12 to inhibitaccess to any gaps therebetween that may cause injury should a personshand or foot become located therein.

In FIG. 18 there is schematically depicted a modification of theassembly 28. In this embodiment there is provided a pivotally mountedflange 49 attached to the flanges 29 by linkages 48. By operation of alever 49 and connecting rod 50, the flange 47 is moved angularly toadjust the position of the flanges 29 and therefore the position of thepivots 19.

As best seen in FIG. 19, the linkage assembly 28 may be arranged so thatthe platform 11 is suspended thereby, with the assemblies 28 located inenclosed chambers 51.

1. A bed assembly including: a platform to support a person in a lyingand/or reclined position; a support member fixed to the platform so asto extend downwardly therefrom; a base; and a linkage assemblysupporting the member on the base for movement about two space firstpivots providing first pivot axes that are generally parallel,horizontal and transversely spaced about which the member moves to causemovement of the platform.
 2. The bed assembly of claim 1 furtherincluding a motor means to cause movement of the linkage assembly andtherefore cause movement of the platform.
 3. The bed assembly of claim 1further including two spaced second pivots providing second pivot axesthat are generally parallel, horizontal and transversely spaced, andparallel to the first pivot axes, with the platform being supported soas to move angularly about the first and second pivot axes.
 4. The bedassembly of claim 1 wherein the first pivots are upper pivots, and thesecond pivots lower pivots, with the first pivots being transverselyspaced by a predetermined distance, with said distance being adjustable.5. The bed assembly of claim 1, further including an adjustmentmechanism to alter said distance, the adjustment mechanism moving thefirst pivot in unison either toward or away from each other.
 6. The bedassembly of claim 5, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes springsthat maintain the adjustment mechanism in tension.
 7. The bed assemblyof claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a plurality of links, witheach link extending between a respective one of the upper pivots and arespective one of the lower pivots.